11,700 Free Photos from John Margolies' Archive of Americana Architecture
4 hours ago
- #American Vernacular
- #Photography Archive
- #Roadside Architecture
- Modernist architecture is celebrated by some, while others enjoy quirky roadside buildings shaped like teapots, fish, or doughnuts, which focus on joy and attracting tourists.
- Art historian John Margolies dedicated over four decades to photographing these quirky commercial vernacular buildings across America, supported by a Guggenheim grant and architect Philip Johnson.
- Margolies faced criticism from minimalists for his enthusiasm but rejected the label of 'kitsch,' arguing that such playful architecture is as important as traditional monuments.
- The John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive, containing over 11,700 images, was made freely available by the Library of Congress in 2017, allowing public use for items like postcards or souvenirs.
- The archive includes search tips and enhanced notes, preserving these nearly extinct architectural oddities for virtual exploration and encouraging real road trips to continue Margolies' work.